In an unforeseen development, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Board of Governors voted John Bailey as the new President of the organization Tuesday night. Bailey, who has been the head of the Cinematography branch of the Academy for the past 14 years and was a one-time Vice President, succeeds Cheryl Boone Isaacs who served the maximum consecutive four-year term.

Many believed the frontrunner for the position was Laura Dern who has close ties to Academy CEO Dawn Hudson, an employee of the Academy who serves in a contractual position.

Continue reading No Laura Dern Isn’t The New Academy President, Cinematographer John Bailey Is at The Playlist.

The Oscars are only days away, and while nominees anxiously wait to find out how their long awards-season journeys will end (spoiler: “La La Land” nominees will be happy), first-time producers Jennifer Todd and Mike De Luca are trying to keep as many aspects of the telecast they can secret. Of course, there are still a number of things we know about the world’s most prestigious awards show.

Continue reading What To Expect From The 2017 Academy Awards Telecast: Matt Damon, Sara Bareilles, Politics at The Playlist.

It may have been lost in the monsoon of daily news that hits you over the head on social media, but Cheryl Boone Isaacs, the President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, gave a speech at the 2017 Oscar Luncheon and it was somewhat remarkable.  It’s not very long and you need to watch it. In fact, it’s more newsworthy than the yearly “class photo” that is typically the high point of every luncheon.

Continue reading Cheryl Boone Isaacs Speaks Of Academy’s Role As ‘Agents Of Change’ At Oscar Luncheon at The Playlist.

In something of a surprise, the Academy announced late this afternoon that the annual nominations announcement will no longer be announced live at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.

READ MORE: Oscar Nomination Voting Is Officially Over: Who’s In And Who’s Out?

Traditionally, the Academy has recruited one or two notable former nominees or up and coming stars to reveal the nominees alongside the sitting Academy president. Hundreds of members of the global entertainment press corps along with every contending publicist in town sits in the theater as the nominations are revealed.  

Continue reading The Academy Is Changing The Way The 2017 Oscar Nominations Are Announced at The Playlist.